24. Impact of Heavy Metal Exposure on Newborn and Pregnant Women Associated with Leukocyte Carcinoma

Heavy metals are toxic contaminants that enter the human body from the environment. These contaminants have an impact on newborn leukocytes and may be associated with chromosomal changes that might alter the length of the leukocyte telomeres. Heavy metals often contaminate water and soil; consequently, accumulate in the food chain. The present investigation was conducted at the Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, New Delhi; considering 312 pregnant women and newborns. 200 people of all age groups were also taken into consideration. Urine samples were collected and analyzed through mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). This study explores the progress of knowledge related to the toxic effects of heavy metals in pregnant woman and their neonates. Assessment of heavy metal concentration in maternal urine was done to examine prenatal heavy metal exposure. Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead exposure were inversely related to birth weight, mortality, and effects on newborns. Blood smear preparations, qPCR chromosomal telomere length assay, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) study illustrates the effects of heavy metals. Correlation between prenatal exposures of toxic heavy metals (in the environment), and detrimental birth outcomes was evaluated. The effect of heavy metal inducing leukemia was significantly high in neonates than in adults.